News from March 2024
Lawsuit wants tequila in margarita-flavored hard seltzers
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Drinkers expect tequila in their hard seltzers if they are labeled as margarita-flavored, a new class action lawsuit says.
Marriott fitness center caused injury, lawsuit says
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A man hoping to get in a workout at Massachusetts Marriott says the bench collapsed underneath him, causing injuries.
Government's opioid blame-game with Walmart takes huge hit
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Walmart recently scored a big win in a lawsuit brought by the federal government that attempts to blame the retail giant for the nation's addiction crisis.
Autism plaintiffs rejected from Florida Lockheed Martin toxic tort
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Autism is among the disorders that lawyers can't prove to be caused by a Florida Lockheed Martin plant.
Houston-area chiropractors get good news in RICO case alleging they ripped off insurance companies
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - Insurers who footed the bill for personal injury settlements shouldn't succeed in recouping their losses from health care providers they alleged conspired to inflate the cost of care, a federal magistrate judge says.
Indiana attorney general cautions against storm-related scams amid severe weather
As severe weather impacts communities across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued a warning to residents about potential storm-related scams. In the aftermath of such events, scammers often attempt to exploit the situation by targeting those affected.
Reed Smith’s J.P. Duffy receives a Burton Award for distinguished legal writing
Reed Smith is proud to announce that international arbitration partner J.P. Duffy has won a Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award from the Burton Awards.
Attorney General Murrill's unit arrests two men for juvenile pornography in Louisiana
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's Cyber Crime Unit has arrested two men from Ascension Parish on various charges. The arrests occurred on Tuesday, March 12, following investigations initiated by cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Attorney General Miyares Urges Biden Administration to Stop Funding Iran's Terror Network
Attorney General Miyares has urged the Biden Administration to stop funding Iran's terror networks, joining a 12-state coalition in a letter demanding the halt of funding after the Administration renewed a sanctions waiver allowing Iran access to $10 billion in frozen assets. Miyares expressed concern over the decision, stating, "The Biden Administration’s decision to grant Iran access to $10 billion in frozen assets is a dangerous move that will only serve to embolden the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism."The coalition of attorneys general, including Miyares,...
Troutman Pepper Partner Andrea Rimer Brogdon Named President of Georgia Brownfield Association
Andrea Rimer Brogdon, a partner in Troutman Pepper’s Environmental and Natural Resources Practice, has been named President of the Georgia Brownfield Association (GBA). Brogdon began her 2-year term as President of GBA on January 1, 2024.
Attorney General Coleman Urges Franklin Circuit Court to End Its Death Penalty Ban
Attorney General Russell Coleman filed a motion with the Franklin Circuit Court seeking to end the nearly 15-year ruling that has blocked the imposition of the death penalty in Kentucky.
AG Moody’s Statewide Prosecutors Charge Couple Operating Massive Human Trafficking Ring Involving More Than 30 Victims
Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged a Florida couple, Marquett James and Alyson Marquett, with human trafficking, RICO, sexual battery, money laundering, and other serious counts for operating a massive trafficking ring. According to a Homeland Security investigation, the couple recruited and forced victims to engage in commercial sex work in various locations in Florida and across the country.Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed, “Through coercion and violence, a Florida couple operated a massive human trafficking ring that...
AFL Lawsuit Against Biden Weaponized DOJ’s Produces Hundreds of Records on Radical Biden Appointees
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a result of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, America First Legal (AFL) received a production from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that exposed critical information on the political appointees in the Biden Administration that are working behind closed doors to implement Joe Biden’s extremist agenda—including at the weaponized Department of Justice.AFL obtained resumes, SF-50s, ethics pledges, and more as a result of this suit. These documents detail the appointees’ full names, salaries, titles, work histories, the agencies they work...
Ohio Supreme Court upholds death penalty for Thomas E. Knuff
The Supreme Court of Ohio has upheld the death penalty for Thomas E. Knuff Jr., who was convicted of murdering his two housemates in Parma Heights in May 2017.
Officer Involved Critical Incident in Green Bay, Wis: Investigation Underway
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is currently looking into an officer involved critical incident (OICI) that took place in Green Bay, Wis. on February 23, 2024.According to the report, during the incident, "Steve Evaristo Ventura, age 40, fired his weapon. Ventura and Officer Skenandore then exchanged gunfire." Unfortunately, Ventura sustained injuries and despite receiving medical attention, he later passed away. The cause of Ventura's injuries is still being investigated.Fortunately, "No law enforcement officers were...
America First Legal Exposes Internal USAID Disinformation Primer
America First Legal (AFL) has made headlines today after releasing documents from litigation against the U.S. Department of State's Global Engagement Center (GEC), revealing the existence of an internal "Disinformation Primer" within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).The Foundation for Freedom Online (FFO), founded by Mike Benz, analyzed these documents and highlighted the significance of AFL's lawsuit against the State Department. According to FFO, the documents exposed how the GEC utilizes state propaganda through cooperation with willing...
The Buckeye Institute Supports SCOTUS Brief for Small Business Protection
The Buckeye Institute, based in Columbus, Ohio, has recently joined the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in an amicus brief aimed at protecting small businesses. The brief, filed in the case Metal Conversion Technologies v. U.S. Department of Transportation, urges the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and uphold the principle of "equitable tolling."According to David C. Tryon, the director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute, "Equitable tolling is available to plaintiffs in our constitutionally established federal courts." Tryon further emphasized...
Almost $1M taken off big verdict against former owner of Ashford University
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - The former owner of an online university's quest to reduce a $22 million verdict has barely made a dent.
New trial as widow claims ghost-hunting show defamed her late husband
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - A TV show-maker that insisted its ghost-hunting series wasn't serious journalism will get a new trial after a first one returned a $3 million verdict against it.
Sixth Circuit won't touch ruling that ended huge PFAS class action
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - The bold class action lawsuit that once hoped to include virtually every American has officially ended.